Kathryn Grayson Biography

Fast Facts

• Supervised the Choral and Vocal Studies Program at Idaho State University, which has since been renamed in her honor
• Discovered singing on an empty stage in the St․ Louis Municipal Opera House at age 12, after which she was introduced to Chicago Civic Opera singer Frances Marshall
• Quote: "(On eventually getting enjoyment out of movie acting): "If you don't get fun out of a particular type of work, why do it?""
• Quote: "(On dealing with long filming hours): "Some people would get crabby, but [co-star] José and I could always stay happy․ I guess it was the music in us․ I think music makes life a happier place to be․""
• Best known for lending her opera-trained soprano to the musical films "Show Boat," "Anchors Aweigh," and "Kiss Me Kate․"
• Was briefly engaged to Howard Hughes in the '50s
• After seeing her screen test for MGM, Katharine Hepburn told her she was "the greatest young actress I have ever seen․"
• Although she trained for opera from a young age, it wasn't until 1960, 19 years after she signed with MGM and made her first movie, that she made her opera debut in "Madame Butterfly․"
• Her sister Frances Raeburn and brother Michael Butler both had roles in the film "Seven Sweethearts," of which she was the star